Mary Anne: asked Mary Anne As a Christmas gift to my father many years ago I took our 100 yr. old family Bible to a book restorer. When I brought them the Bible the front spline had come apart the front and rear covers were falling off. The restorer rewove the broken page thread bindings, layered a new softer leather beneath the old leather front spline and covers, and installed new top sheet paper to the front and back and new cover backing. The Bible now opens and closes with no "creaks and groans" and the pages lay flat like it was new. I forget what I paid in 1976 for this but the restorer said it should last another 100 years. As for "Special care " the bible sits on top of a bookcase with reproductions of the old photos I have, This year it was laid open to the Christmas story for the holidays. The little extra that you may spent to have the Bible or any old Family book is worth it as the pride you will have passing on to a family member later is really neat. Respectfully Keith W Brown Indianapolis, IN http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/b/r/o/Keith-W-Brown